Gov. Heineman, NDA Announce Garden County
Certified as Livestock Friendly

(Oshkosh, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman and Assistant Agriculture Director Neil Moseman announced today that Garden County has qualified for certification as a Livestock Friendly County in Nebraska under a program coordinated by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).

Garden County is the eighth county to receive this distinction, joining neighboring Morrill and Keith Counties, as well as Webster, Hitchcock, Dawes, Wayne, and Adams in being designated as Livestock Friendly counties in Nebraska.

“Garden County officials have shown their commitment to economic development and agriculture by pursuing this designation,” Gov. Heineman said. “The Livestock Friendly program recognizes the positive economic impact a viable livestock industry has on rural communities. Participation in this program is evidence that officials are dedicated to their local livestock industry and recognize its potential to be a viable contributor to the future stability and growth of agribusiness.”

County Commissioner Ron Shearer accepted the Livestock Friendly designation from Gov. Heineman and Moseman on behalf of the Garden County Board of Commissioners. The county will receive road signs bearing the program logo to display along highways.

Moseman said, “When you consider that the neighboring counties of Morrill and Keith Counties are also part of the Livestock Friendly program, it’s clear that with the addition of Garden County, this area of the state is well-positioned for future economic opportunity in the livestock and agribusiness arena.”

To apply for a livestock friendly designation, counties must hold public hearings, secure a declaration acknowledging the importance of livestock to their counties’ well-being, submit a narrative describing how the county will meet Livestock Friendly County program guidelines, and provide copies of regulations associated with site-selection criteria for livestock operations.

Additional information about the Livestock Friendly County program is available by contacting the NDA at 800-422-6692 or by visiting the NDA Web Site at http://www.agr.ne.gov, and clicking the Livestock Friendly County box.